EXPERTS. Ezra 7:6-21.

One of the most interesting things I did as a lawyer was to select and prepare expert witnesses.

It is fascinating to meet people who are leaders in their fields. I hired an expert in tropical medicine (malaria), in metallurgy (for a suit over oilfield pipe) in orthodontia (for a suit about teeth being pulled), and others. It was always amazing to study their resumes—the books and articles written, classes taught, years of experience in the field…. The one thing they all had in common was YEARS. You do not become an expert overnight. It takes a lifetime of dedication and hard work.

The Bible does not use the word “expert” often.

The Holman translation calls Esau an expert hunter, David’s men experts with sword and shield, and men Jesus encountered are called “experts in the law.” But the one called an expert most often is Ezra. 

“He was skilled in the law of Moses… the hand of God was upon him… Ezra had determined in his heart to study the law of the Lord, obey it, and teach it in Israel….[He was] an EXPERT in the Lord’s commands…. an EXPERT in the law of the God of heaven… an EXPERT in the word…” Ezra 7:6-21.

Ezra is the only person in the Bible called an “expert” more than once.

Why? What made him different? Look at verse 10:

“Ezra determined in his heart to study God’s word, obey it, and teach it.” EXPERTISE BEGINS WITH COMMITMENT. 

Does that make sense? Ezra may have had skills, gifts, and talents, but his real strength was that HE MADE UP HIS MIND. He DETERMINED IN HIS HEART. It all comes down to commitment. A quest, a goal, a life of joy, victory, and dreams fulfilled—it all begins with COMMITMENT. 

Expertise Begins With COMMITMENT.

Dear God, help us to love your word as Ezra did, to make up our minds to study it, obey it, and teach it. Give us the gift of a deep, lifelong commitment. May we study so much, we become experts in your word. Help us read it and love it more every day. We love you.

ΑΩ